Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. An apparatus of a transmitting end that includes a plurality of transmit (Tx) antennas in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising: a control block configured to determine a long-term average slot utilization rate; and a radio unit configured to transmit a first signal using a first Tx antenna set and a first subcarrier set if the long-term average slot utilization rate is greater than a threshold, and, to transmit a second signal using a second Tx antenna set and a second subcarrier set if the long-term average slot utilization rate is less than the threshold, wherein the second Tx antenna set is a part of the first Tx antenna set, wherein the second subcarrier set is a part of the first subcarrier set, and wherein a power per antenna of the second signal is higher than a power per antenna of the first signal.
A wireless transmitting device with multiple antennas reduces power consumption by adapting its transmission strategy based on network traffic. The device monitors the long-term average slot utilization rate, which indicates how busy the network is. If the utilization rate is high (above a threshold), it transmits using all available antennas and subcarriers. If the utilization rate is low (below the threshold), it switches to using a smaller subset of antennas and subcarriers to save power. To compensate for the reduced resources, the power per antenna is increased when using the smaller subset, ensuring adequate signal strength.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control block is further configured to receive the amount of used resources provided from a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) block performing a scheduling in every frame.
The transmitting device described above determines the long-term average slot utilization rate by receiving information about the amount of resources being used. This information is provided by a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) block, which handles scheduling and resource allocation for each frame. The control block uses the resource allocation data from the DSP to determine how busy the network is and whether to switch to the power-saving mode.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control block is further configured to determine the long-term average slot utilization rate by determining an amount of used resources comprising a ratio of a number of actually allocated slots to a total number of slots that can be allocated.
The transmitting device described above determines the long-term average slot utilization rate by calculating the ratio of actually allocated slots to the total number of slots that could be allocated. This ratio represents the percentage of available resources currently being used. By tracking this ratio over time, the device can accurately determine the long-term network load and adjust its transmission strategy accordingly, switching to a lower-power mode when the utilization rate falls below a predefined threshold.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control block is further configured to determine the long-term averaged slot utilization rate by calculating an average amount of used resources.
The transmitting device described above calculates the long-term average slot utilization rate by averaging the amount of used resources over time. This average provides a smoothed representation of network traffic, allowing the device to avoid making frequent transmission mode changes based on short-term fluctuations. By using an average, the device can more accurately determine the overall network load and make stable decisions about when to switch to the power-saving mode.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control block is further configured to deliver to a DSP block performing a scheduling, a Mode Switch Indicator (MSI) that is configured to indicate whether the long-term average slot utilization rate is less than the threshold, and deliver to the at least one controller a Power Control Indicator (PCI) that is configured to indicate whether a power amplifier is turned off.
In the transmitting device described above, the control block provides information to other components to control power saving. It sends a Mode Switch Indicator (MSI) to the DSP block, signaling whether the long-term average slot utilization rate is below the threshold, prompting the DSP to schedule transmissions using a smaller subset of antennas and subcarriers. The control block also sends a Power Control Indicator (PCI) to the power amplifier controllers, indicating whether specific power amplifiers should be turned off, further reducing power consumption.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radio unit is further configured to increase the power of the second signal to 3 dB.
The transmitting device from the original description increases the power of the second signal (transmitted using a smaller antenna and subcarrier set) by 3 dB. This power boost compensates for using fewer resources during periods of low network utilization, ensuring that the signal reaches the receiver with sufficient strength, maintaining communication quality while reducing overall power consumption. The 3dB boost represents a doubling of power.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control block is further configured to select the second Tx antenna set to be used to transmit signals based on SINRs for each Tx antenna fed back from a receiving end.
The transmitting device described above selects the subset of transmit antennas to use for low-traffic transmissions based on Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) feedback from the receiving end. The receiving end measures the SINR for each antenna and reports these values back to the transmitting device. The transmitting device then selects the antennas with the highest SINR values, ensuring that the reduced antenna set still provides optimal signal quality even while saving power.
8. A method of operating a transmitting end that includes a plurality of transmit (Tx) antennas in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: determining a long-term average slot utilization rate; transmitting a first signal using a first Tx antenna set and a first subcarrier set if the long-term average slot utilization rate is greater than a threshold; and transmitting a second signal using a second Tx antenna set and a second subcarrier set if the long-term average slot utilization rate is less than the threshold, wherein the second Tx antenna set is a part of the first Tx antenna set, wherein the second subcarrier set is a part of the first subcarrier set, and wherein a power per antenna of the second signal is higher than a power per antenna of the first signal.
A method for operating a wireless transmitting device with multiple antennas to reduce power consumption involves monitoring the long-term average slot utilization rate. If the rate is high (above a threshold), the device transmits using all antennas and subcarriers. If the rate is low (below the threshold), it transmits using a smaller subset of antennas and subcarriers, increasing the power per antenna to compensate. This dynamic adjustment optimizes power usage based on network traffic.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the long-term average slot utilization rate comprises, determining an amount of used resources comprising a ratio of a number of actually allocated slots to a total number of slots that can be allocated.
The method described above determines the long-term average slot utilization rate by calculating the ratio of actually allocated slots to the total number of slots that could be allocated. This ratio provides a measure of network load, enabling the transmitting device to dynamically adjust its transmission strategy and save power by switching to a smaller antenna and subcarrier set when the utilization rate falls below a specified threshold.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the long-term average slot utilization rate comprises: determining the long-term averaged slot utilization rate by calculating an average amount of used resources.
The method described above calculates the long-term averaged slot utilization rate by averaging the amount of used resources over a period of time. This averaging process provides a smoothed representation of network traffic, preventing the transmitting device from reacting to short-term fluctuations and allowing for more stable decisions about when to switch to a lower-power transmission mode.
11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising: increasing the power of the second signal to 3 dB.
The power-saving method for wireless transmission described above includes increasing the power of the signal by 3dB when using a smaller subset of antennas and subcarriers. This boost in power compensates for the reduced resources, ensuring that the signal reaches the receiver with sufficient strength and maintaining communication quality during periods of low network utilization.
12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising: selecting the second Tx antenna set to be used to transmit signals based on SINRs for each Tx antenna fed back from a receiving end.
The method of reducing power consumption during wireless transmission described above involves selecting a subset of antennas based on Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) feedback from the receiving end. The transmitting device chooses the antennas with the highest SINR values, ensuring optimal signal quality even when using a reduced antenna set to conserve power during periods of low network traffic.
13. A method of operating a transmitting end that includes a plurality of transmit (Tx) antennas in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: determining whether a long-term average slot utilization rate is less than a threshold; when the long-term average slot utilization rate is less than the threshold, selecting a subset of Tx antennas and a part of frequencies resources for transmitting signals; turning off a power amplifier for at least one Tx antenna that is not included in the selected subset of Tx antennas; and applying boosting to a signal transmitted through the subset of Tx antennas and the selected subset of resources.
A method for reducing power consumption in a wireless transmitter involves determining if the long-term average slot utilization rate is below a specific threshold. If it is, the method selects a smaller set of transmit antennas and a portion of the available frequency resources for transmission. The method then turns off power amplifiers for any antennas not included in the selected subset. To compensate for the reduction in resources, the signal transmitted through the subset of antennas and resources is boosted, thus maintaining signal quality while saving power.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein determining whether a long-term average slot utilization rate is less than a threshold comprises: determining a slot utilization rate for each frame; and calculating the long-term averaged slot utilization rate based on a plurality of previously determined slot utilization rates.
The method of determining whether the long-term average slot utilization rate is less than a threshold, as described above, involves first determining a slot utilization rate for each frame (or time interval). Then, the long-term average is calculated based on a collection of these previously determined slot utilization rates. This creates a smoothed value representing network usage over time and mitigating single-frame variability when deciding to switch to a lower-power mode.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the slot utilization rate comprises a ratio of a number of actually allocated slots to a total number of slots that can be allocated.
In the method for saving power described above, the slot utilization rate (used to calculate the long-term average) is defined as the ratio of the number of slots that are actually allocated (in use) to the total number of slots that could be allocated. This ratio represents the proportion of network resources that are actively being utilized in each frame or time interval.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein selecting the subset of Tx antennas comprises: determining an estimated Signal to Interference-plus-Noise power Ratio (SINR) for each of the plurality of antennas; and selecting at least one Tx antenna with the highest SINR.
The method for saving power by selecting a subset of transmit antennas, as described above, determines an estimated Signal to Interference-plus-Noise power Ratio (SINR) for each antenna. The method then selects the antenna(s) with the highest SINR value(s). This allows the transmitter to select the best-performing antenna(s) for transmission, even when using a reduced set of antennas to conserve power, thus maintaining signal quality.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radio unit is further configured to disable at least one power amplifier that corresponds to at least one Tx antenna that is not included in the second Tx antenna set.
The transmitting device described in the first claim includes a radio unit that can disable at least one power amplifier associated with the transmit antennas that are not part of the smaller set of antennas used during low traffic. By turning off the power amplifiers for unused antennas, the device can further reduce its power consumption when the network load is low.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the radio unit is further configured to increase the power per antenna of the second signal based on a number of Tx antennas other than the second Tx antenna set in the first set of Tx antenna.
The radio unit of the transmitting device from the initial description increases the power per antenna of the second signal (the one transmitted using a smaller antenna set) based on the number of transmit antennas that are *not* in use. In other words, if more antennas are turned off, the power boost to the remaining antennas is increased proportionally. This dynamically adjusts the power compensation to maintain a consistent signal strength at the receiver, regardless of how many antennas are active.
19. The method of claim 8 , further comprising: disabling at least one power amplifier that corresponds to at least one Tx antenna that is not included in the second Tx antenna set.
The wireless transmission method includes disabling at least one power amplifier that corresponds to at least one transmit antenna that is not included in the second Tx antenna set (the smaller set of antennas used during low traffic). This is done to further reduce power consumption when the network load is low, complementing the power savings achieved by reducing the number of active antennas.
20. The method of claim 8 , further comprising: increasing the power per antenna of the second signal based on a number of Tx antennas other than the second Tx antenna set in the first set of Tx antenna.
The wireless transmission method involves increasing the power per antenna of the second signal (the signal transmitted using the reduced set of antennas) based on the number of transmit antennas *not* included in that reduced set. This ensures that the signal reaches the receiver with sufficient strength, compensating for the reduced number of transmitting antennas and maintaining communication quality while minimizing power consumption.
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November 18, 2014
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